Dr. Keith Cates, LPC, LMHC

Dr. Keith Cates is a licensed professional counselor and licensed mental health counselor with 16 years of clinical experience. He focuses on stress and anxiety alongside trauma, depression, relationship concerns, and career challenges. His approach centers on practical conversation and clear steps you can try between sessions.

He uses a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs. Conversations are tailored to what matters most to the client, whether that is coping after trauma, managing compassion fatigue, or improving sleep and self-esteem. He brings attention to life meaning and daily routines that affect mood and behavior.

Dr. Cates has worked with first responders, military personnel, and people coping with disaster-related stress. That background informs how he talks about high-stress work, burnout, and transitions. He also addresses issues like intimacy, parenting, and nontraditional relationship structures when individuals bring those concerns.

Sessions aim to identify small, achievable changes and build momentum over time. Techniques may include mindfulness practices to manage anxiety, focused problem-solving for practical issues, and targeted EMDR work when trauma processing is appropriate. He encourages collaboration on goals and regular check-ins about progress.

Clients can expect direct, respectful conversation and plans they can use outside sessions. Dr. Cates frames therapy as a team effort focused on realistic steps toward better functioning and greater emotional balance.

Therapeutic approaches and online options

Existential Therapy invites people to examine meaning, values, and life choices to clarify what matters most. It can be useful for coping with emptiness, career questions, and major life changes. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, often shortened to EMDR, is a trauma-focused method that helps process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to lessen day-to-day anxiety and improve sleep.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, symptoms, and personal preferences, and then suggest methods to try. Clients and the therapist check in regularly and adjust the plan based on how things are going and what feels helpful.

Practical benefits of online therapy include easier scheduling, fewer time costs for travel, and the ability to fit sessions into a regular week. Because session formats are not detailed here, confirm the current online and in-person options before booking. The aim is to make therapy fit into daily life while focusing on meaningful change and better management of stress and anxiety.